Horizontal broaching machine



o. w. BONNAFE 3,046,846

HORIZONTAL BROACHING MACHINE July'31, 1962 Filed June 27, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR la'yer HZa/fzaje www 12%@ July 31, 1962 o. w. BONNAFE I 3,046,846

HORIZONTAL BROACHING MACHINE Filed June 2'?, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 415 g: ,i O 95 July 31, 1962 o. w. BONNAFE HORIZONTAL BROACHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 27, 1960 -jvllll @yf/@wf ATT'YS.

July 31, 1962 o. w. BONNAFE:

HORIZONTAL BROACHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 27, 1960 July 31, 1962 o. W, BONNAFE 3,046,846

HORIZONTAL BROACHING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 y Mi f Mf M7 M8 M9 3,046,846 HORIZONTAL BROACHENG MACi-DNE Oliver W. Bonnafe, Hudson, Mass., assigner to The Lapointe Machine Toei Company, Hudson, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed June 27, 1969, Ser. No. 39,038 9 Claims. (Cl. 90-92) This invention relates to horizontal breaching machines for breaching work pieces of extreme length and has for its principal objects to 'provide apparatus for use in conjunction with a breaching machine for making available a succession of breaches, one after another, as they are needed and to restore them to a position for reuse; to provide an apparatus for storage of a plurality of breaches in readiness for use; to provide an apparatus in which disposing individual broaches in a position to be used and removing them after use is made easy; to provide an apparatus which eliminates handling individual breaches thus eliminating possible damage of the breaches and injury to personnel; and to provide an apparatus in which the transfer of the breaches in succession is semi-automatic. Other objects are to provide apparatus which is of simple construction and requires no more than ordinary skill to operate.

In accordance with the foregoing, there is an elongate frame mounting a work support and draw bar for movement of the latter lengthwise of the frame. The draw bar has jaws at one end for gripping an end of a breach to pull it through a work piece mounted on the frame and there is a carrier adjacent the frame for supporting a plurality of breaches which, used in succession, will cut the work to size. The carrier is movable in timed relation with the draw bar so as to move the breach next to be used, following a given operation, to a position to be attached to the draw bar. The breaches are supported transversely of the direction of movement of the draw bar to permit storage of all of the breaches within a small space while one is being used, and there is means for stopping the carrier in a position at the forward end of the 'apparatus to permit transferring a breach from the carrier to the draw bar. A transfer device is arranged adjacent that forward end of the carrier by means of which a bar to be transferred from the carrier may be lifted therefrom and moved opposite the draw bar. There. is a similar transfer device at the other end of the carrier for disengaging the breach pulled through the work from the draw bar, and restoring it to the carrier. The carrier is an endless conveyor having a run parallel to the work support andsupports -a plurality of spaced parallel trays within which individual breaches may be placed without touching each other. Each of the transfer devices comprises a horizontally disposed arm supported at one end for vertical movement to raise and lower the arm and spaced hooks at its distal end rotatable about a vertical axis so as to be disposable crosswise of the conveyor to engage or disengage a breach thereon, and axially of the support to permit placing an end of a breach opposite the draw bar or removing a breach from engagement with the draw.

bar. Elevation of the arm is eected by Huid pressure.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. l is a plan, view of the breaching machine; FIG. 2 is a side elevation; FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation as seen from the left end of FIG. 1; -V

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2; I

FIG.V 6 is a side elevation ofthe endless conveyor broken Patented July 31, 1962 intermediate its ends showing the breach supporting pockets;

FIG. 7 is an elevation to much larger scale showing the transfer device; i l

FIG. 8 is an elevation of the transfer device to much smaller scale at right angles to that shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the hydraulic system for the c transfer device; and

FIG. l10 shows the wiring diagram for the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the machine has a long, substantially rectangular box-like frame 10, having spaced parallel, vertically disposed side walls 12 secured at their lower ends to a flat base plate 14 and supporting between their upper and lower ends a horizontally disposed bed plate 16. The bed plate 16 supports longitudinally extending V-shaped and at ways 18 and 20 upon which there is slidablymounted a slide 22, the latter being held firmly engaged with the ways 18 and 2t) by rails 24-24 fastened to the inner sides of the walls 12, so as to bear upon inclined-ways 2525 in the lateral edges of the' slide. The slide 22 supports a post 26 to which the rear end of a draw bar 28 is attached. By movement of the slide 22 the draw bar may be moved longitudinally of the frame 19 from the rear end, as shown Vin dotted lines (FIG. 2), to the forward end as shown in full lines, the forward end having jaws v'30 for engagement with a breach. The slide 22 has on its underside a rack 32 (FIG. 3) for engagement with la gear 34 mounted on a transversely disposed shaft 36, supported in bearing plates 38 fastened tovertically disposed struts 40. A pinion 42 meshes with the gear 34 and is fast to a horizontally disposed shaft 44 which extends laterally from the base through one of the side walls and is connected by a coupling 46 to a shaft 4S extending from a driving unit 50 mounted on a flat base plate 52 connected to one side of the frame 10, as shown in FIG. 4.

The draw bar 28 is supported intermediate its ends when retracted by aroller 29 mounted on a horizontally disposed arm 31 fastened to a post 33 on one of the walls 12,` so that it may be swung from a position extending transversely of the base to an out-of-the-way position `as shown in FIG. 1; The post 33 is rotatable lin a bearing 35 and has at its lower end an arm 37 which is engaged by forward movement of the post 26 to swing the arm .31.out of the way. A second support roller 39 is mounted forwardly of the roller 29, adjacent the rear end of the work support on a shaft 41 mounted between brackets 43. The roller 39 is Xed permanently .in'place since it is far enough forward so that when the post 26 abuts, or is adjacent to its rear side, the lforward end of the draw bar projects through the forward end of the work at its extreme forward position.

At the forward end of the frame 10 there are a plurality of work supports 54 disposed transversely of the frame, four of which are shown. lEach support (FIG. 5) has an upstanding post 56 supporting a vertically disposed clamping plate 58 at one side of the center line of the frame. An arm 60 is pivoted on the post which extends transversely therefrom and has a downwardly projecting leg 61 through which there is threaded a screw 64. The screw supports a clamping plate 62 Ifor adjustment to and from the plate 58, so that a work piece w (FIG. 5) may be clamped between the plates 58 and 62 with its lower edge resting on a bearing plate 63. The

leg 61 extends downwardly between the legs'of a clevis astenia hereinafter. v Y At theY distal end of the arm 82 there is avertically Ydisposed sleeve 96 within which there is mounteda spinl line of the draw bar so that aV broach pulled through the work will-make its cut in the proper position.

With a work piece supported in the aforesaid clamps, the draw bar 28 is advanced Ifrom its rearmost Yposition forwardly until the jaw 30 at its forward end projects from the forward end of the work piece, At this posiaca-asas tion the leading end of a broach 66"'is engaged with the jaw 30 and then the `draw bar is pulledrrearwarrdly veyor 68 (FIGS. 1 land 6) ldisposed parallel to the frame,

with one end near the rear end of the work andthe other end near the forward end of the work forV supporting a plurality of broaches, 'side by side, for movement, one after another, from a position at the rear end of the work to a position at'the forward end thereof. As illustrated (FIG; 6), a Vsupport 70 is'connected to the 4base of the frame 10, upon which there are mounted horizontal shafts 72 to which are fastened spaced parallel sprockets 74, about which there are [entrained endless chains 76. The links of the chainssupport L-shaped trays 78`made of a hard wood. As shown Yin FIG. 6, each tray is made up of a at bottom 75'and d: p 100 which has an end flange 17. A horizontal bar 102 is mounted on the bearing for rotation thereon. Near the opposite ends of the bar 102 there are spaced par- Y allel grooves 19 for receiving the rollers 107 of a pair of hangers 104, so that the latter are movable lengthwise of the bar 102 to facilitate moving the broach' lengthwise when engaging it with the draw bar clamp. Springs 21 are mounted in the slots at lopposite sides of the hanger so as to hold them centered. The hangers,

in turn, pivotally support the shanks 23 of a pair of' hooks 110 which are adapted to receiveand support a broach on edge.

As previously stated, there are two such transfer devices, one located at aposition near the forward end of the conveyor and the other at a position near the rear end of the conveyor; When the draw bar has been advanced through the work into Ya position to receive a :broach and the conveyor has come to rest, the operator standing at Y the head of the machine grasps theV handle '55 and 'swings a vertical wall 77.` The broaches 66 are placed'with an edge lon the horizontal bottom 75 and are supported therein between adjacent Walls 77. 'Ihe wooden trays cushion the cutting edges of thebroaches so as not to damage them. The conveyor is .driven in timed relation with the forward movement Vof the-draw bar so will be in a position to be transferred from the conveyor to the draw bar. The means forY elfe'cting such movement of theV conveyor will hedescribedV hereinafter. y Y

' Forrtransferring -a broach Yfrom the carrier to the draw bar and after the broach has beenfpulled through the `Work, forse-transferring it from the draw bar to the conveyor, transfer devices 80 are provided,A one at the end. A Y

Each; transfer device (FIGS. 7 "and 8 Yfconfiprises a hcririzontally disposed rigid armV 82 `fastened at one' end to agverticallyldisposed sleeveY in the form ofa cylinder '84 mounted on a vertically Ydisposedrjad, which conthe arm 82 from a position more or less parallel to the side of the machine, crosswise thereof, so as to bring the hook-s into engagement with Vthe broach nearest the'for- Ward end of the conveyor. Then, by manipulation, he

can engage Athe hooks with'the broach, lift it from `the.

conveyor and swing it into `a position of alignment the draw bar, as shown in dotted lines yin FIG. l. The draw har is then engaged with the leading end of the broach and breaching is effected by drawing the broach through the work. When the broach clears the -rear end of the work the operator manipulates the transferdevice at that end of the Workhso as to bring the hooks into parallel relation to the broach-and engage them therewith.

Y 'IIhe jaws of the draw ibar'are then 'disengaged from the Ythat when the latter reaches its forward position a broach Y rear end of the conveyor and the otheiifa't the forward Y stitutes a-fpiston rod for movement of the cylinder in larly about the axis ofthe rod.' The rod 86 is fastened 'at its endsto a verticallydisposed bracket-SSQand has iixed toY it -a pistonY 90 which divides the interior of the Y velevation on the -rod and for swinging movement angucylinder 84 into'chambers at its upper and lower sides. The ends of the cylinder are suitably Vpacked to prevent Y leakage of uid and fluid pressure is supplied to the opposite sides of the piston 90`by means (of conductors 92a rand 9217, which enterthe opposite ends ofV the piston' ma, the inter having axial passages 93a and 931 vwhich` terminate adjacent the pistonin ports 954i and 95b. A

f Y. handlefSS listed to the arm for electing `rotation about theV vertical axisof the rod. Such movement is producedV `manually by pushing on the handle; Upward and downward movement of the arm is -assistedby YsupplyingKiiuid Ypressure kto the opposite sides of the pistonfas will appear dle 98 having a head 15 at .its upper end.A Thelower end of the spindle 9S Aprojectsdownwardlyrfrom the sleeve 96 and Vrotatabl-y supports -a cylindrical Ybearing closed.` A switch S5Vis also closed. Closing 'Switch vS5, `1 Supplies current to a relayflCiRl which, in turn, closes Y YVsure exceeds a predetermined amount. have manually operable levers'27 which are normally transfer it back onto theconveyor.

broach and the operator may then raise thebroach tol Ventical movement oi the arm 82 and hence the hanger is effected by supplying oil to theupper 'or lower ends of the piston rod 86, as previously vpointed tout. To thisend there is provided at each transfer device a valve 45 (FIG.- 9). iEach valve is connected by va conductor pipe 47 a motor driven pumpM-PF which, in turn, is connected to an oil sump 99. AY relief valveV in, the Hpipe provides for by-passing oil from the sump in the event that pres- "Dhe valves 45 lheld in a neutral position so Vthat oil hows lfrom the pump Vthrough the valves to the sump. lEach valve is connected g to the opposite end of the'piston rod byway of valves 49 and 51.z Each valve 49 containsa check 53 through;y

which oil maybe pumped to supply oil to the lower end of theA cylinder and :a regulator57through which may vent to the'sump Iwhen the pressurereachesa predetermined amount. The Iregulator 57 acts las a balancer and may he set so that it will support the Weight of the arm, broach and cylinder. The valve 5'1 has a check 1171 through which oil may be pumped tothe upper end of the cylinderland Va regulator 113 in the -form of Va needle ,Y e

which may be set to control the rate of venting.

Operation of the apparatus is effected as follows: Re-

ferring to FIG. 10 there area maintnotor M1, hydraulic motor M2, coolant motors M3`and M9, Ablower motor M5,

V.lubricating motors M6 and M7, and broach kconveyor motor M8. These motors vare all connected toV anoutside f power supply by a main switch S and are controlledlhy aV circuit which is connected to the power supply hyway ofV a transformer 122.V .The only motorsl which' are ofV primary considenation in describing the operation of the Y apparatus are the main motor Mil, the broach conveyor `motorMS and the coolant motor M9. After Y,closing the switch S the motor starting switches S1, VS2, S3fand S4 are switch ICR to supply current to the several relays :and

switches which controlv the movement of the drawV bar andthe Conveyor. To' staita cut, switch S6 is closed f n I which energizes relays -A and D. Energizing relay A opens switch Ao and closes switches A1, A2, A3 and 1A4. The switch A1 (not shown) is in the motor M1 Vand closing this switch supplies current to the motor in a direction to move the draw bar rearwardly on its cut stroke. At this time, iimit switch LSlb is closed and since switch A4 is closed current is supplied to a relay FWD which starts the conveyor motor M8. Relay FWD also closes switch F so that current is supplied through switch F to relay to hold it closed. The motor M8 continues to run until the conveyor moves the next broach in line up to the loading position at .the forward end of the conveyor. A trip on the conveyor operates to momentarilyopen the limit switch :L37 which thus stops the motor M8 and hence the conveyor because in the interim the limit switch LSla has been opened as will now appear. As the broach enters lthe work so 'as to `fill the opening, -that is, to plug the opening, it closes a limit switch 1.810. Since switch A2 is closed current is sup- .plied to a relay CM1 which, in turn, closes -a switch (not shown) for starting the ycoolant motor M9. Limit switch LSlb is closed, switch LSla -is open and limit switch LSS is closed. Near the end of the cutting stroke limit switch LS6 is mechanically opened =so as to de-energize relay D. De-energizing relay D opens a switch Ds in the circuit of the motor M1 (not shown) so that a resistance is introduced into the motor circuit and hence slows it down, thus slowing down the broach. When the broach nally clears 'the work at its rear end it mechanically opens a limit switch LSZa and closes a limit switch LSZb. Opening switch =LS2`a de-energizes relay A and hence closes switch A0 and opens switches A1 to :A4 inclusive. Opening switch LS2b supplies lcurrent to relays |B and E. Now, if the broach has been removed, depression of a return switch S7 energize relays B and E. Energizing relay B closes a switch in the motor circuit to reverse the current to the motor M1 in a direction to return the draw bar to its forward position. If the broach has not been removed limit switch LSlZ is held open so that depression of the switch S7 will not start the motor. To jog the draw bar into position `at the start of the return stroke, as it is moved up to the hole in the work piece, a jog switch S8 is open so that by repeatedly pressing the return switch S7, the draw bar may be inched up to the work. After the draw bar has entered the work the jog switch is closed and .the return switch closed so as to cause the motor to drive the draw bar to the work. Near the end of the travel of the draw bar, toward its forward end, the limit switch LSS is open which de-energizes relay A land hence cioses -a switch in the motor circuit to place a resistance in the motor `circuit and slowing it down. As the broach emerges from the work `limit switch -LS3 is mechanically opened to stop the motor. The conveyor is normally driven in a forward direction, however, la reversing relay REV is included in its driving circuit to permit it to be moved rearwardly in the event that it is desirable to shift the carrier rearwardly. There are also safety switches LSS and L89 `disposed so as to be contacted by the broaches at the ends of the carrier to prevent the carrier from running over the end with a broach in one cf the trays, which would thereby permit it to drop olf the tray and become damaged.

.The internal wiring circuit of the motor M1 which includes the reversing switches and the .resistances which may be cut in by closing switches therein is of conventional construction and hence is not disclosed herein.

it should be understood that the present .disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a breaching machine, a work support, a draw bar, means supporting the draw bar parallel to the work support for reciprocation through a predetermined stroke,

rearwardly on a cutting stroke, and forwardly on a return spaced parallel relation in horizontal positions, said carrier having its forward and rear ends situated at the forward and rear ends of the stroke of the draw bar, an

intermittently operable motor for effecting movement of the carrier forwardly to move a broach-receiving pocket into a position adjacent the forward end of the draw bar stroke for transfer of a broach therefrom to the draw bar, a transfer device at the forward e'nd of the machine movable to a position above the' broach-receiving pocket,-

at the forward end, to engage and flift a broach from the pocket and move it into a position in alignment with the draw b-ar for engagement with the jaws at the forward end of the draw bar, means operable during the rearward movement of the draw bar to initiate operation of the carrier motor to advance the next broach-carrying pocket in succession, into position at the forward end of the carrier, and to stop it at said position, and means operable when the draw bar reaches the rearmost end of the stroke to remove the broach from the draw bar and replace it in an empty pocket at the end of the carrier.

2. A broaching machine according to claim 1, wherein there is a jogging switch operable to inch the carrier forwardly or rearwardly.

3. A broaching machine according to claim l, wherein there is an indexing switch operable to advance the carrier a distance corresponding to that between successive broaches.

4. A broaching machine according to claim 1, wherein each transfer device has an yarm supported at one end at the side of the work support opposite the carrier for movement heightwise and angularly in a. horizontal plane, said arm being of such length that, when ydisposed transversely -across the work support at right angles to the direction of movement of the carrier, the distal end lies on the center line of the carrier, said arm being movable angularly to a position such that the distal end lies on the axis of the draw bar, la pair of spaced hangers pivotally supported at the distal end of the arm for movement about a vertical axis, said hangers being adapted to be engaged with the underside of a broach resting on the carrier, and means for effecting swinging and heightwise movement of the arm and the hangers into engagement with a broach on the carrier, lift it therefrom, and transfer it into a position of Ialignment with the forward end of the broach puller.

5. In combination with a broaching machine having a lhorizontal work support, a draw bar movable relative thereto forwardly and rearwardly, and an endless carrier parallel to the work support for supporting a plurality of broaches in readiness for connection to the draw bar; a transfer device at each end of the work support, one for removing a broach from the carrier and Itransferring it to a position to be attached to the draw bar `at the forward end of the work support, the other for supporting the broach while detaching it from the draw bar at the rear end of the work support and returning it to the carrier, each device comprising a rigid, vertically disposed piston-rod supporting a piston, said piston rod being fixed to the frame at a side of the work support oppositerthe carrier, a cylinder mounted on the rod for' heightwise movement thereon, and rotary movement about its axis, a rigid, horizontally disposed arm xed at one end to the cylinder, said arm being of such length that its distal end will lie on the center line of the carrier when the arm extends transversely of the work support at right angles to the direction of movement of the carrier, and may be moved to a position to lie on the center line of the work support, a hanger pivotally suspended from the distal end of the arm, a handle on the cylinder operable to turn the cylinder on the rod, and means selectively operable to raise and lower the cylinder on'the rod.

6. A broaching machine according to claim 5, wherein the means selectively operable to raise and lower the cylinders on the rod comprises valves for supplying fluid pressure to the opposite sides of the pistou, and a manually operable Valve Vfor selectively supplying fluid pressure to one of the two valves and Venting the other.

7. A broaching machine according to claim 5, wherein theV means selectively operable to raise and lower the cylinder on the rod comprises valves for supplying and venting fluid pressure from the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston, a manually operable valve for selectively supplying fluid pressure to one Valve and venting it from the other,'and means associated with the valve at the lower end adjustable to resist venting up to the combined weight of the cylinder', arm and broach supported thereby. l f

8. A broaching machine according to claim 5, wherein the piston rodV contains, axially extending passages from its ends, inwardly -to near the opposite sides of the piston, where they lare ported into the cylinder, and the means selectively operable to raise and lower 4the cylinder comprises valves for supplying and venting uid pressure through the passages in the piston rod, and a manually one of the valves and venting it irom thefother.

9, A broaching machine according to claim 5, wherein the means selectively operable to raise and lowerV the cylinder on the rod comprises valves for supplying iluid pressure to the opposite sides of the piston, anda manual'- ly operable valve normally occupying a neutral position, said valve being selectively operable to supply pressure to either one of the valves and vent the other', and movable to its neutral position at any time to haltthe ow of fluid from said valve and hence to stoprthe cylinder in a selected heightwise position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS Walter et al. Feb. 16, 1960 

